Is it me, or does this sound like some kind of pro sports offseason when players are traded and swapped like, well, like baseball cards? You’ve got the big name managers bringing in the top talent for their teams. Congratulations on the new gigs, guys, we hope they’re great opportunities. I’m glad to see church staffs pursuing the top talent, I just never thought church staff changes would be such intriguing news.

23 Responses to “Church Staff Free Agents”

Hmm, why does it bother me that this sounds more like American celebrity career news and less like info on people called out by God to serve wherever they are ordained to be? I really don’t care who they are or where they are…I just hope they’re where God wants them to be. :)

I have a lot of respect for the pastor at my own church for his vocal willingness to stay here!!! I know I might not, but the idea of living incarnationally — living in community and the influence you have as a member of that community (which takes time) — is something that is, very frankly, lost on most Americans. As somewhat evidenced to this post . . .

Jared, you are so right.
Celebrity?- NO!
Star?- NO!
Following the bigger and better thing? -No!
God has been working on this for a long time and I consider it a privilege and honor to follow Jesus wherever He leads.
Church Staff Free Agent? -NO!
Active Follower of Christ? -YES!!

With the future number one pick and the player to be named later…it all works out;)
Seriously…if you know either Terry or Tony you know that this is a God thing and the cross polination will be great for both places.
mark

Personally, I can’t wait to see what comes of all the change. These are churches that are on the forefront of change…so when they are making changes, my radar goes off and says God is up to something BIG!

This is an example of great marketing. Bringing in big names generates excitement and draws in people with money to donate. I’m not sure how I feel about it. It seems to be about expanding a church franchise, using a cookie-cutter approach, or doing work that has already been done. They are likely to try and reproduce the work they have already done in their previous church. Let’s say the franchise is Walmart. I like Walmart to a point, but it doesn’t meet everyone’s needs and doesn’t make a good fit in every community. Why not start a new Walmart instead of trying to improve someone else’s Walmart? If they are traveling from one megachurch to another, then what’s the point? Why not build a new megachurch from scratch and impact another community for Christ instead of going after increased fame, fortune, and influence in another well-established church? Maybe they should help out where help is needed. The United States is a missionfield…why not spread the Word instead of focusing on that which is already established? I can’t judge these individuals, but this post just brought up some feelings from a guy from what I’ve heard is one of the least-churched areas of the nation where the workers are few.

“This is an example of great marketing. Bringing in big names generates excitement and draws in people with money to donate. I’m not sure how I feel about it. It seems to be about expanding a church franchise, using a cookie-cutter approach, or doing work that has already been done.”
I would assume most folks in the congregations have no clue who these cats are, they are known more in the pastoral circles.
Also, before we get critical, it’s not like these cats are leaving bad situations.
Its so easy to be critical when you are just getting a snapshot of what really took place.

Just the fact that we posted to this is a Testament to how big of a move it is…
I was approached by a church in Texas and they got us to move from a great church in San Diego…and no one even noticed…
But with these guys they have had such a huge impact on the world of marketing with churches that it does impact us…
If for nothing else we know churches follow other churches…and many churches followed and learned from Granger…
So I am looking forward to how far these guys will push us in the future…
Hey Todd: I want to bid ten on your cards…

Well, as a Pastor who is looking to hire great staff, I love the analogy. I often picture myself as a talent scout, looking for the best talent I can get within the budget I’m working with. I sometimes even refer to “free agents” and “contract negotiations” throughout the hiring process. Finding and keeping the best staff is not a game, but making church fun is essential. Yes, God works the process, but that is no excuse for churches to sit back and wait for the right staff to fall into our laps! dt http://www.davetilma.com

This isn’t a slam on these guys because I’m sure they are doing great things for the Lord, but…
I just don’t understand why churches are paying a large amount of money going after big name free agents when there are people that may be equally or more qualified to do equal or greater work for the Lord, but may not have established a celebrity status. They may or may not be the ‘top talent’…it’s still a gamble and they may need to be put up for free agency. Just like in sports, sometimes the players don’t live up to their hype when they are traded to a new team. We just cannot put our trust in man, but rather in the Lord. Men can let us down. We’ve seen it again and again. It just seems that when we try to draw in staff with money, we are trusting our judgement rather than the Lord’s calling. There are other ways to find staff than salary negotiations, aren’t there?

Why does everyone assume that when a person moves from one church to another, that it is because they are getting more money, or great package, or chances to be more famous? I know Terry and Tony personally and I am convinced that if they are moving, it is because God has placed a calling on their life elsewhere. I am on staff at NewSpring, where we have 3 staff out of 71 that did not come out of our volunteer core. Our goal is to raise up leaders and promote from within, however, there are times when God places people in our midst that have gifts that are greater or different from that which we currently have. We would be stupid not to recognize that God has choreographed such a move and that he will use it for his glory.

Dan, are you telling me I was supposed to get a raise out of this deal? Man! That stinks! Emily and I were just trying to follow God’s lead in our lives. We didn’t realize we were supposed to ask for more money too.
tony

I really don’t think the title of this article speaks to either the intent or the process involved with these guys. I don’t think either of them would want to come off as “names” or “people-centered.” Poor choice of wording…
Best to both of you in your continuing ministries…

Darn, someone figured it all out, in our “free agent” negotiations with Tony we had to promise him the following…
– A brand new leather Bible every year.
– A gun rack for his Audi (since he is moving to the South)
– An endless supply of sweet tea.
– A Clemson jersey
– A weekly expense account at the Anderson Jockey Lot
I HATE IT when get get discovered like this…wow…to actually think that God has something to do with these moves…what a thought! :-)

I’ve moved twice in ministry and both times were for less money. Good for you that you moved and didn’t get more money, that enforces the motive of the move as ministry. I must say however that Tony did get the better deal, he got palm trees!

As a military and civil service veteran (Still serving!), I understand the process of moving, changing and growing in responsibility, maturity and effect. I have worked in 11 military commands and 5 civilian commands since 1979, and I am likely to add at least a few more before I am done.
As a member at NewSpring, where Tony is heading to, I am very excited that this same process is ongoing at our church. I have learned that the only places that such changes never or rarely occur is at commands that do not matter much, or have nothing to do. NewSpring fits neither of those categories. I am far from being a newby at much of anything, but even I am amazed at how much both my wife and I are growing at NewSpring, as is just about everyone I have spoken with.
Anyone who sees this as just money, power or presige does not get it; this thing called Christianity is much more than just a job. It IS like a body, the body of Christ, with organs, blood, brains and bone. No organ can survive without another, and other organs cannot live without it. Tony’s move is a part of how good information and one way the Spirit of God moves from church to church. If such things did not happen, the church as a whole would be in a casket, not shaking the world as it is.

I apologize for my cynicism. I’m just experiencing a little bit of culture shock from being from an area with no megachurches or church celebrities. I’m here to learn, so if I get a little reckless with my comments, please forgive me. The analogy just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I just have way more respect for church staff than I do for professional athletes and hollywood celebrities, and since they were personified as such, then it seemed a little offensive to me.

Watch out! Newspring will steal your staff, musicians, etc, anything that will make them better. We talk about one prayer and everyone is on the same team. To them the only game in town is Newspring. Sorry for the honesty . .